The Lagos State Government has directed residents to remain indoors during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, May 30, between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the appeal in a statement issued on Thursday, urging residents to participate fully in the exercise by cleaning their homes, drainage channels, surroundings and public spaces.

Wahab commended Lagos residents for the turnout recorded during the April sanitation exercise, which marked the reintroduction of the monthly programme.

He described environmental cleanliness as vital to healthy living and sustainable development, stressing that the sanitation exercise has become a permanent initiative in the state.

The commissioner disclosed that the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, would lead a team of government officials to monitor compliance in Alimosho Local Government Area, while the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, would supervise monitoring activities in Apapa Local Government Area.

He added that adequate compactor trucks had been deployed across the state to ensure prompt evacuation of waste generated during and after the exercise.

According to him, all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas would participate in monitoring the sanitation exercise to ensure compliance and promote environmental cleanliness.

Wahab urged residents to cultivate a lasting culture of cleanliness and warned against unhygienic practices and dirty surroundings.

He also cautioned residents against patronising cart pushers for waste disposal, describing the practice as illegal, while noting that the operations of Private Sector Participation operators had been expanded to cover more communities.

The commissioner warned that abatement notices would be issued to residents who fail to clean their surroundings, adding that defaulters could face prosecution.

He further advised residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels and other unauthorised locations as part of efforts to maintain a clean and flood-free Lagos.